The Alpine Club, the world’s first mountaineering club, was founded in 1857.  For over 150 years, members have been at the leading edge of worldwide mountaineering development and exploration. 

With membership, experienced and aspiring alpinists benefit from a varied meets programme, regional lectures with notable guest speakers, reduced rates at many alpine huts, opportunity to apply for grants to support expeditions, significant discounts at many UK retailers, extensive networking contacts, access to the AC Library and maps - and more! 

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It is with great sadness that we report the death on 6th March of Peter Mallalieu, Honorary Keeper Emeritus of the Club’s Paintings.  

Peter joined the Club in 1992 and in 1996 became Honorary Keeper of the Club’s Paintings. In 2007 he published ‘The Artists of the Alpine Club’, the first ever biographical study of Alpine Club artists

Peter Mallalieu's funeral was held at Banbury Crematorium on Friday 17 March at 2.00 pm.

Members would be welcome to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that they can be posted on the website

Tributes  

#4 ac_administrator 2017-03-08 15:25
Dear All,

Notice of the death of Peter Mallalieu, came to me today. It is with heartfelt sorrow that I write these few words. Words are in fact rather difficult to find at this moment.

I at first accepted his invitation to exhibit my artwork at the AC from October 2013 to January 2014, with without any hesitations. But after some consideration of transport difficulties from Norway and EU custom regulations, I began to have my doubts.

Peter was however so persuasive and helpful in all manners, he was a man you just couldn’t say “no” to. When my friend Sarah and I arrived at the AC on the chosen day to set up the exhibition, he was a great support, and with well-chosen words encouraged and inspired me. Peter had an incredible understanding of the mind of the artist, and could see what I was trying to communicate more clearly than I could myself! I remember him as a big man indeed in many dimensions. His invaluable work for the artists of the AC, including the anthology (last edition 2011), will go down in history and not be forgotten.

Thank you Peter for being you. Your vision transcended way above my expectations and I consider myself privileged to have been “Under your wing” for an all too brief moment in life. May you rest in peace.

My deepest condolences to Jenny, and the family.

Leslie Ayres
#3 ac_administrator 2017-03-08 12:20
I recall Peter as a kind, erudite, good-humoured gentleman who wore his erudition elegantly.

He wrote the chapter in my biography of Godwin-Austen ('The K2 Man') which assessed Godwin-Austen's considerable artistic talents. Peter dug into the history of G-A's artistic influences and unearthed several paintings which captured these influences perfectly. He also included an academic assessment of G-A's talents, which I was wholly unqualified to provide, and for which he had to travel some way in order to view the surviving watercolours and sketches. He did this without fuss and with great willingness and enthusiasm. The loss to Jenny, the family and the Club is a great one.

Catherine Moorehead
#2 ac_administrator 2017-03-08 11:56
I was very sorry to hear of Peter Mal's death and felt very guilty that I had lost touch with hime since he was an enthusiastic member and delightful companion on the 1987 Royal Navy Royal Marines Mountaineering Club expedtion to East Africa. This was a combined climbing/exploration and medical research trip led by Steve Jackson with Jim Milledge as research leader and myself as deputy leader and climbing leader. A great trip and very good fun to climb and travel with Peter.
Alastair Miller
#1 ac_administrator 2017-03-08 10:40
Peter Mallalieu.
It is very sad to hear of the passing of Peter. I knew him primarily through my editing the AC Newsletter until 2015 as Peter was the ‘go-to’ man when it came to publicising the Art Exhibitions that he organised at Charlotte Road. He was always extremely co-operative and helpful and supplied the necessary info on time (!) – a rare attribute much prised by editors!
His Art Exhibitions were of great interest and an important vehicle for promoting the careers of some of the UK’s most talented mountain artists. Not only that, their success provided a very valuable and considerable contribution to the AC coffers for which he was justly lauded!
His 2007 biographical dictionary ‘The Artists of the Alpine Club’ is a lasting testament to his erudition and love of mountain painting and painters and again amply repaid it’s publishing costs.
He was always kind, efficient and personable and made my job as editor easier and more pleasurable.
I shall miss him.
Thanks, Dick Turnbull.

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